on form, responding to text, and the
interrelationship of language with ideas.
B. Kervin
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5
SCIS 1611366 Paper $12.95
The year my life broke
MARSDEN, John
Pan Macmillan Australia, NSW, 2013
ISBN 9781742613352
The author of this novel has
placed the reader squarely in
the world of the upper
primary student using the
voice of Josh, the Year 6
protagonist, to tell the story.
The first person narration is
peppered with occasional coarse
language, slang and colloquial speech
and the plot concerns family and school
life, sport and a mysterious empty house.
The involvement of the police and a
shooting in that house inject some
drama into an otherwise pedestrian
story. This sub-plot breaks up the many
pages describing Josh’s passionate
obsession with playing cricket. The
interplay between Josh and his arch
nemesis, the PE teacher, makes for
uncomfortable reading, given the
negative portrayal of this teacher. Josh’s
emergence from disgruntled new boy at
A very singular guild
JINKS, Catherine
Allen & Unwin, NSW, 2014
(City of orphans)
ISBN 9781743313091
Late 19th century London is
still cursed with an influx of
bogles, creatures living in the
city’s underground sewers
and tunnels, only emerging
to consume unsuspecting
little children. Alfred Bunce
now has the financial backing of the
London Sewers Office to continue his
battle to eliminate the monsters. His new
apprentice, Ned, assists Jem in the task
of luring out the bogles so that Alfred
can use his strangely powerful spear. The
life and times of England are woven in
with the mystery of the bogles, the
contrast between the wealthy and the
underclasses clearly apparent. Ned’s
fascination with the growing
technological revolution is weighed
against the prevailing superstitions. As
this book is the third and final title in the
series, the reader would benefit from
reading the previous titles. S . Morton
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
SCIS 1627412 Paper $14.99
Catherine Jinks chats with Shearer’s Bookshop
by ShearersBooks
Afterworld
LOUNSBURY, Lynette
Allen & Unwin, NSW, 2014
ISBN 9781743315101
Containing a poignant and
philosophical examination of
death, the existence of life
after death, and the traumas
and challenges that go with
this, the content of this novel
may be confronting to some
readers as it investigates issues of
religion and the afterlife. Figures from
many religions appear with an emphasis
that all religions are correct. Although
Dominic is 15 years old, the layered
characters feel older and real
connections with them only occur
towards the fairytale ending of the novel.
The three stages of this quirky, yet
intriguing, narrative are stylistically
different. This facilitates the development
of the characters and teaches the reader
about Dominic’s initial struggle to
understand the history of the world, his
place in it and the afterlife. The
supernatural elements of this story
require careful consideration. A . Frost
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
SCIS 1644335 Paper $17.99
The fall of the house of Usher
MANNING, Matthew K.
Stone Arch, USA, 2013
ISBN 9781434242587
A popular tale by a well-
known author is successfully
transformed into a graphic
representation, capturing the
mood effectively. Utilising a
number of techniques,
including bold borders,
combinations of light and shade and well
defined illustrations, it is able to take the
reader on a downward emotional journey
of fear, doom and guilt. It is a very good
example of how to construct and
develop a short story. While the graphic
form encourages readers of all abilities to
experience and enjoy the construction
method, it also provides an example of
reinventing literature in another form. It
has merit as a source for a number of
classroom activities, including focusing
2014 Volume 33, Issue 2 83
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